Researchers have discovered a new potential way to address atherosclerosis, a condition marked by plaque buildup in arteries that can lead to severe heart problems like strokes and heart attacks.
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University have discovered a new target to combat atherosclerosis, a condition characterized by the accumulation of plaque in arteries, resulting in serious cardiovascular issues, including strokes and heart attacks.
In a recent study published in the journal Cell Reports, they have pinpointed an anti-inflammatory molecule known as itaconate (ITA), which could pave the way for a novel treatment strategy for this widespread and lethal condition.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease stands as the primary cause of death for men, women, and various racial and ethnic groups.
While medications provide some assistance, they do not fully shield patients from cardiovascular risks. Therefore, healthcare professionals also suggest lifestyle modifications, such as adhering to a low-cholesterol and low-fat diet (LCLFD), to further diminish plaque and inflammation that elevate the risk of cardiovascular diseases. However, many patients struggle to maintain these dietary restrictions over time.
Understanding the role that ITA has in relation to diet and heart disease could help in addressing these challenges.
“We’ve discovered that itaconate is vital for the diet’s effectiveness in stabilizing plaques and lowering inflammation—until now, this has been somewhat unclear,” stated Andrei Maiseyeu, an associate professor at the Cardiovascular Research Institute and Department of Biomedical Engineering at Case Western Reserve’s School of Medicine. “This finding represents a significant advancement in our comprehension of how dietary changes can help resolve plaque at a molecular level.”
Building on this finding, Maiseyeu and his team have created a new treatment: ITA-conjugated lipid nanoparticles (ITA-LNP, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/707,954). This innovative therapeutic method enables ITA to aggregate in plaque and bone marrow, where it alleviates inflammation and mimics the positive effects of LCLFD without necessitating drastic lifestyle alterations.
“We have already observed its efficacy in several models of atherosclerosis,” Maiseyeu remarked. “We are hopeful this will lead to improved treatments that significantly decrease the long-term risks of heart attacks and strokes while enhancing patients’ quality of life.”
Maiseyeu and his team are currently working on bringing ITA-LNP into clinical settings, including the development of a pill version of the treatment, which they believe will be not only user-friendly for patients but also revolutionary.
